Description: The Global Hawk's Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) consists of Electro-Optical sensor and Infrared sensors and a X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The ISS is capable of continuous operation during more than 40 hours at an altitude of over 21,000 meters at day and night and in adverse weather condition. It gathers information to provide commander's with accurate situational awareness, targeting, and bomb damage assessment. The CCD-TV and IR sensors enable intelligence users to distinguish between types of aircraft, vehicles and missiles. The SAR radar has three modes: 0.3 m resolution Spot mode, 1 meter resolution Wide Area Search mode and a 2.1 m/s (7.5 km/h or 4 kn) minimum detectable velocity Moving Target Indicator mode.

A single Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle is capable of scanning 138,000 square-kilometer in 24 hours using the Wide Area Search mode (1 meter resolution). It takes 1,900 pictures of 4 square-kilometer in 24 hours using the Spot mode (0.3 m resolution). Using the Moving Target Indicator mode it can scan 15,000 square-kilometer in just one minute. Raytheon's ISS currently installed on the Global Hawk provides near real-time imagery and was combat proven in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. ISS assembly is being carried out in El Segundo, California.